Improving The Lives of Maryland’s Dually Involved Girls June 11, 2014 A project generously funded by the Abell Foundation & the Jewish Women’s Giving.
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Improving The Lives of Maryland’s Dually Involved Girls June 11, 2014 A project generously funded by the Abell Foundation & the Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation. ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (ACY) JUVENILE JUSTICE EDUCATION • Every child’s ally • Improving the lives of children for generations to come • Independent research and proven best practices • Conveners and leaders HEALTH CHILD WELFARE TODAY’S PRESENTATION PROJECT BACKGROUND RESEARCHING THE ISSUE CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS WHAT IS “DUAL INVOLVEMENT”? Crossover Youth Youth who experience maltreatment & engage in delinquency. They may or may not be known to the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Dually-Involved Youth Youth with some level of concurrent involvement with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Dually-Adjudicated Youth Youth with formal involvement in the child welfare system and juvenile justice systems. Herz, et. al. (2012). Addressing the Needs of Multi-System Youth: Strengthening the Connection Between Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice. Washington, DC: Center for Juvenile Justice Reform UNIQUE RISK FACTORS SIGNAL DUAL INVOLVEMENT FOR FEMALE YOUTH Three or more out of home placements double offending behavior in boys. Out of Home Placements History of Trauma & Maltreatment ANY out of home placements doubles offending behavior in girls. Environmental & Social Instability Girls in DJS out of home placements report experiencing physical or sexual abuse at three times the rate of boys. 90% of girls in DJS out of home placements have “high familyrelated needs.” Abuse During Adolescence PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH ▪ Interviewed 20 young women, aged 18 – 24 ▪ Histories of involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems ? ? ? WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM? WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM? HOW CAN WE BETTER SERVE DUALLY INVOLVED GIRLS? “ LISTENING TO OUR STORIES IS THE FIRST STEP. ” PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH % WITH MULTIPLE OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS % THAT RAN AWAY TO BE W/FRIENDS OR FAMILY % THAT SELF REPORTED SUBSTANCE ABUSE 80 50 30 percent percent percent “ WE WANT TO BE HEARD. ” PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH % THAT REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS 55 percent % THAT FELT UNHEARD BY THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES 70 percent % THAT WANTED INCREASED ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES 75 percent DUALLY INVOLVED GIRLS STRATEGY SESSIONS ▪ October 14th, October 16th, & December 9th of 2013 ▪ Collaborative process guided by a variety of stakeholders ▪ Identify the needs of dually involved girls in Maryland ▪ Develop recommendations PARTICIPANTS Advocates for Children & Youth Staff and Board Members Baltimore City Public Defender’s Office Baltimore City School Police Baltimore County DSS Baltimore County LMB/DMC Community Law in Action Court Appointed Special Advocates The Family League Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit MD Assoc. of Resources for Families & Youth MD Department of Juvenile Services MD Chap. of the National Assoc. of Social Workers MD Disability Law Center MD Foster Youth Resource Center MD JDAI/DMC Initiative MD Legal Aid Bureau MD Police Training Commission New Lens RECOMMENDATIONS IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION CROSS-SYSTEMS COLLABORATION TRAUMA INFORMED POLICY, PRACTICE, & PROGRAMS PLACEMENT STABILITY & PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE SERVICES INCREASE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES VALUE YOUTH VOICE IN ALL PARTS OF THE PROCESS WHAT’S NEXT WRITE & PUBLISH REPORT ADVOCATE & EDUCATE • State agencies • Elected officials • Public IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR GIRLS • Fewer referrals to DJS • Increased access to girls’ services • Improved treatment delivery “ WE ARE RESILIENT & YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON US.” A project generously funded by the Abell Foundation & the Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation. We are every child’s ally. 8 Market Place, Suite 500 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 410-547-9200 www.acy.org Megan Lucy [email protected] Melissa Rock [email protected]